ASPARAGUS. 



127 





Fig. 18. ASPARAGUS BUNCHER. 

 (Old.) 



length of the bunches. A plantation in full bearing and 



vigorous growth may require to be cut daily, but it 



should not be continued beyond about four weeks, for 



fear of weakening the plants. 



The bunches, to command the highest market price, 



should be four inches in 



diameter, eight inches in 



length, and about two and a 



half pounds in weight, and 



should not only consist of 



good assorted " grass," but 



be evenly and compa3tly 



made. To attain these re- 

 quisites, without too much 



loss of time, a buncher, of which there are many 



patterns, is indispensable. It holds the proper number 



of sprouts to form the 

 four-inch bunch, firm- 

 ly in position for one 

 tie to be made below 

 the buds and another 

 noar the base, when 

 the lower ends may be 

 evenly cut off with a 

 sharp knife. The sim- 

 plest form of buncher 

 is shown in fig. 16. It 

 consists of a board with 

 four pins about six 

 inches long, placed four 

 inches apart, and form- 

 ing a square. This is 



Fig. ^.-ASPARAGUS BUNCHER. (Modern.) placed againgt a wall ^ 



in order to make the ends of the shoots even, or it may 

 be provided with a back, as in fig. 16. The ties are laid 

 down, and the shoots stacked up between the pins. A 



